1.25/5 stars! This book had so much potential. The premise was interesting and set things up for a beautiful story of healing and growth and finding a second chance at love. The problem was the FMC was horrid. I actively hated her, even knowing she was not even real. I kept telling Benjamin to run in the opposite direction. Additionally, there was no depth around the characters. I think the author has some good ideas but needs a great deal of work.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

I’m sure there are a good number of people who’ve wondered how life could have been different with a different partner or former love. After all, not everyone‘s first love is their “one true love.” Was interesting to get to explore that, though this book wasn’t exactly what I was expecting per the description…

Still appreciated how the story evolved, and how the “long lost love” came to pass. There’s a point in the book, sort of a spoiler alert, here, where one of the protagonists receives feedback that the way she’s written a character is too much, rendering her unlikable. And, I felt that way for a bit about said character. I feel like the author could’ve unpacked and helped the reader better appreciate or understand why the main character is/was as she is… because the reasons provided didn’t quite get me there.

There were a heap of heavy subjects in this book, but they were well addressed and somehow stayed realistic. Maybe a few TWs are due though: illness, loss of parent, alcohol abuse, assault, other violence to name a few.

Overall, enjoyed the book and basically read it in a single sitting. Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Charlotte Rixon for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I'm struggling with writing a review of this book because my opinion changed throughout the course of reading it. I didn't like the first third of the book. It told the love story of two college students, Ben & Clara. I understand they were young, flawed and immature, but I just found them annoying. In fact, I didn't really like any of the characters. I also just didn't feel a real connection between Ben & Clara.

I liked that the chapters are short and told in alternating points of view of the two main characters. The first chapters cover both the beginning and the end of the story. It isn't until about a third of the way through that we learn about the middle of the story. This was an interesting way to tell the story, which I enjoyed. Whle dealing with many sensitive issues including cheating, sexual abuse, alcoholism, death of a parent, suicide, cancer, IVF, and manslaughter, the book was dark at times.

I felt it was well-written and I was happy with the ending. Without giving anything away, I felt it was a very realistic conclusion. Thank you to Net Galley for the opportunity to read the ARC of this book.

Be sure to check trigger warnings (which include alcoholism, death of a parent, cancer, sexual assault, violence, suicide bomber, manslaughter…)
It’s a story of growing up, being separated and a long time in between finding each other again. The story is told in two POVs, and alternates between past and present. The main characters didn’t excite me as a couple, but I still felt drawn to the story and rushed to find out how it concludes. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reader copy!

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY is a heartbreaking yet hopeful love story that is riveting from the very start. A poignant novel of two beautifully flawed people who are meant for each other. Benjamin and Clara's story is honest, real, and raw. Benjamin and Clara are both so pure yet struggle with their insecurities, fears, and mistakes, making them all the more relatable and human. While ready to commit and plan their future together, one incident will affect the rest of their lives.

How do two people move forward in their lives when their hearts are so tightly entwined with the past? It's remarkable to see how much Bejamin and Clara evolve and grow over twenty years, yet at the same time still longing for their time together twenty years ago. To think what they've both had to endure, admit, overcome and almost lose to end up back in each other's lives.

I think this book made me feel just about every emotion including happy, sad, angst, angry, charmed, frustrated, shock, anxious, hopeful and more. The author knows exactly how to pull the feelings right out of you. First time reading this author and could not be more pleased! Looking forward to reading more of her work.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

<i><blockquote><b>A simple life with people I love. That's all I've ever wanted.</i></b></blockquote>
The One That Got Away is an honest, heartfelt portrayal of growing up, making mistakes, making up, and finding hope in the direction life takes you.

Benjamin and Clara meet in 2000 in college. Benjamin is a shy, awkward boy learning the ropes of University. Clara on the other hand is confident, buoyant, and fun. They fall into a deeply interconnected relationship. Growing and loving one another. Like any relationship, some things don't mesh. Clara can't handle Bejamin's love for soccer. She's still young, insecure.

On one fateful night, their lives, the trajectory of their futures, their dreams are shattered. There is no way to come up for air in this endless sea of heartache.

20 years later, Clara is married, but unhappy. She has the job, a kind husband, but she can't shake the feeling of Benjamin and what happened, what could have been.

A bombing in Benjamin's town draws Clara back to his small English town. In the days that pass, Clara explores the chaos of their relationship. The emails they wrote to one another over the years, and the thoughts she was never able to shake.

The story is divided between Clara and Benjamin, through various years leading up to the bombing--the side stories are important and interesting.

The One That Got Away is a poignant story that explores very complex issues like infertility, grief, loss, alcoholism to name a few. I thought Charlotte Rixon has a very important story to tell. It is passionately executed with characters that a reader can easily attach to--it is an honest story and I couldn't put it down.

4.5/5 stars

I'm not sure what I was expecting this book to be about but I was surprised, pleasantly so. Reconnecting with a long-lost love is something I always find interesting to read about and this book was no different. While both main characters weren't people I could really relate to personally they were both interesting, especially how they navigated their relationship.

The bombing starting off the book was unexpected and really set the tone for all the "what ifs" to follow. It left you wondering, for a long time, who was responsible. Then you figured it out, you were sure of it, and then nope, you were wrong. Then you keep reading and you figure it out ... again, and then nope, you're wrong again. I liked that it wasn't just put out there and actually made you think, even if you were wrong. I couldn't stop wondering who the "bomber" was even when I wasn't reading the book.

I also appreciate that the book didn't have a typical HEA. Some people will probably hate that but I think the ending was perfect for the story and the characters.

3.5 rounded up to four stars. More later! Need to process

The One That Got Away is the story of first love: it’s hopes, dreams, and flaws. This novel has multiple timelines over the course of 20 years. There’s also a duel pov. I’m not a fan of either Clara and Benjamin for much of the book. They were young, too young perhaps when they fell in love. Clara’s clingy and demanding. Benjamin’s so unsure of himself that he comes across as unable to make decisions. Lots of secrets. However, both grow up and by the end I was rooting for both characters. This story’s multiple timelines were confusing at times. I’m not sure all were necessary? I kept waiting for more of the why they weren’t together, what had gone wrong? It is revealed, but not until later in the book.
This is a good second chance love story. The last third of the book is much better than the rest. I did want more at the end! Is there hope for a sequel?

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Charlotte Rixon (author) for allowing me the privilege of reading this ARC. All opinions are my own.

OMG!!! I LOVED this book! I just saw it on NetGalley and "asked" if I could have the opportunity to review and am SO thankfuly I had that opportunity. The author had me always wanting more to see whether Clara and Benjamin were going to be together in the long run or not. The suspense, love, loss, the stages of parenting, addiction, abuse and things that you see happening all around us in the world today, made me want to continue to read. I would encourange anyone who enjoys a good love story, that still has a taste of the past, present and future, as well as things in-between, to grab a hold of Charlotte Rixon's book and a cup of coffee and don't stop until you are finished. You will love this novel!

Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
The One That Got Away by Charlotte Rixon is a story of young love and second chances. This story spans 20 years and has multiple timelines and a dual POV.

Story Recap:
Back in the year 2000, university students, Benjamin and Clara fell in love. Their love is all-consuming, and they believe they are soulmates. Then, two years later, something happens on their last day at university and they split up, never to see each other again.

Twenty years later Clara learns a bomb exploded back in her hometown in Northern England at a football match. She knows that Benjamin never missed a home match and she races up north to see if he’s alright.

My Thoughts:
These characters are complex. In the earlier timeline, they are young, passionate, and a bit immature; in the later timelines, they are more guarded and mature, just like most people. I loved these characters, but I was annoyed at their sometimes rash decisions in the earlier timeline, and like many of us when we were young, they didn’t always make good decisions. But, they felt authentic to me. and their love story is raw, passionate, and possibly everlasting.

This book is full of emotion, and I was happy to follow these characters. The book has a lot of angst, especially in the earlier timeline, but it’s all well-written and I grew to care for and root for these characters.

Recommendation:

I highly recommend The One That Got Away to anyone who enjoys romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Excellent read. I enjoyed this novel. The characters evolved from the intensity of a young love into characters who dealt with the struggles and disappointments of life. The author touched on themes of child abuse and alcohol abuse without being preachy or over handed. The characters of Benjamin and Clara will stay with me.

📚📚📚📚📚/5
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*Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of this novel for an honest review* available February 2nd, 2023!
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Benjamin and Clara are college sweethearts. Meeting by what seems to be destiny. Benjamin, who is soft spoken, quiet, and self conscious falls for the beautiful and intelligent Clara.
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As we jump through timelines we learn that each of them see the other as “The One That Got Away”. Each has moved on with their lives in different directions, but they are consistently brought back into each others lives.
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After an explosion in the North of England at a popular soccer stadium l, Clara must find Benjamin and make sure he is ok.
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This is not a love story. This story details the real raw truth of how some people’s heart aches for their first love, for their whole lives. This story truly and irrevocably has broken my heart. It made me so sad for those yearning for what once was and their forgotten loves. I truly loved this book so much I flew through it in 24 hours!

Heartbreaking. I am the biggest fan of second chance romance. However I wouldn’t classify this as a romance; more of a literary fiction with a love story entwined in it. Clara and Ben are both trying to find themselves in their college story. Clara is bright hearted but a little needy, Ben is charming but insecure. I don’t think either one knew what to do with each others energy.

There were a LOT of timelines in this book and quite a few times I had to go back to make sure I knew where we were at but easy to keep track of once we got the swing of it. Dual POV’s which I by far adore to hear from both MC’s. A lot of heavy topics covered in this story but done seamlessly and I love how the story ended because it didn’t end as “they live happily ever after”. I think if the author would have chosen that route, it would have felt too forced. A solid four stars from me…I think the world will love this book!

Overall, this book kept my interest. In hindsight, it was good but could have been "great" if I found at least one of the characters to be lovable. In some books, the anti-hero vibe is "part" of the story but I think, in this case, I would have liked to feel more empathetic for someone, anyone. The closest I came to that was Aiden since I saw the most emotion from him overall.

This is somewhat romantic and a bit suspenseful. Multiple POV and multiple timelines makes it pretty fast-paced overall!

Adored this book! The One that Got Away follows Clara and Ben over the course of about 20 years, from the time they met in university to when they are middle aged. Clara and Ben had an instant connection and yet when we meet them twenty years later, they aren't together- what happened? I love that Charlotte Rixon bounces around from perspective and dates. It kept me wanting to read just one more chapter and there were even some shocking reveals. At its heart, The One that Got Away is about love, friendship, and finding your person.

4.5 stars This book is not a romance novel, but the story of two flawed college students who fall in love and the twenty years that follow. The book is told from two points of view: Benjamin and Clara. Their story begins when they meet while in college and are foolish, possessive, irrational, and passionate. Before graduation, they experience tragedy and are separated. They make occasional contact with each other through the years until another tragedy reunites them. Although there are sad, painful themes in this book (alcoholism, child abuse, cancer, IVF, mental health issues) and the two characters are very flawed, the story was well written and made me invested in their story and possibility of happiness.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a good story about the one that got away years before. It was clear that Benjamin and Clara would always remain each other's "What-if" and when Clara thinks tragedy may have struck she becomes determined to find him. I do appreciate that this story showed them as both flawed characters that remain connected, even through years of no contact. This was not a happy-go-lucky romance read but a more real, surviving bad to get to the good type of story.

I think everyone has had AT LEAST one moment of “what if”. What if something never happened, what if this went differently, what if we didn’t break up? The One That Got Away is all about that. What if Clara and Benjamin hadn’t broken up? What if what happened that night - the night that changed everything - hadn’t happened?

This book flashes from the present day, where a tragedy has just happened - a bombing at a football stadium in Newcastle, UK - and the past moments of Clara and Benjamin’s lives together and apart.

I really liked getting such a close look into what both Clara and Benjamin were thinking and what was going through their minds, even though the story is told from a 3rd person POV. Even though both of them were pretty unlikable in the beginning of the book, being able to understand what they were thinking made them more bearable.

I thought that I would get confused with the book not just going back and forth a lot, but also from Clara to Benjamin and back, but it was really easy to keep track of what was going on and not get lost.

I thought that this book was a very easy and interesting read. It kept me interested all the way until the end, wanting to find out what happened and how everything gets resolved. It’s also a pretty quick read - I finished it in just over a day.

Overall, I can see this book coming a nice classic and a good book club read. I really enjoyed it!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an eARC of this book!

3.5 stars (listed as 3 stars)
The description of the book drew me in, but the story didn’t live up to the description. There are many difficult topics that the author includes in the story of Clara and Benjamin’s first love, and those subjects may cause some readers discomfort. I liked that Rixon included breadcrumbs to follow as the plot unfolded, but I thought the reveal of what happened between Benjamin and Clara was missing something after all the build up. The differences between Benjamin and Clara seemed to grow as the story developed, and I had a hard time liking either of them at times. It was a quick read and wanted to see how the ending brought their story to a close. It was worth the read and it reminded me of those first loves where you lose yourself for someone else.

Thank you NetGalley for early access to this book in return for an honest review.

I honestly did not like this book at all for probably the first half of it. I thought the two main characters were both extremely unlikeable. As I kept reading, though, I was pleasantly surprised. The character development is wonderful and I found myself loving both of them by the end. I did find the plot a bit predictable. I think the ending was satisfying and I appreciate not having a super dramatic ending after everything that happens toward the end. I enjoyed how the timeline jumps around a bit and think it kept me more engaged. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!